Wheel lock and hydraulic release



J. KRAUS WHEEL LOCK AND HYDRAULIC RELEASE Feb. 1, 1949.

5 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1947 INVENTOR.

epiz mus Feb. 1, 1949. J. KRAUS WHEEL LOCK AND HYDRAULIC RELEASE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1947 IIIIII/II/l INVENTOR.

Joseph Jfr'au s.-

ATTD RN EYE Feb. I, 1949. J. KRAUS 2,460,298

WHEEL LOCK AND HYDRAULIC RELEASE Filed July 10, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet s &\\\\\\\\ 8 INVENTOR. v

Jose/712m us ATTORNEYS- Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES'PATENT OFICEv WHEEL LOCK AND HYDRAULIC RELEASE Joseph Kraus, Chicago, 111.

Application July 10, 1947, Serial No. 759,957

1 3 Claims.

This invention relates to wheel lock and hydraulic release for automotive vehicles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel lock for wheels which can be released by simply forcing a plunger .and causing the ejection of Wheel attaching elements from recesses in the wheel whereby the wheel can be released so it can be turned and quickly disengaged from the brake drum.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a wheel lock and hydraulic release for automotive vehicles which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional plan view looking upon the chassis of an automobile vehicle having wheels thereon and employing the hydraulic wheel lock release of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the complete system showing the selector valves in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a rear wheel assembly;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a front wheel assembly;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a wheel showing the recesses and the engaging elements which are extended therein to lock the wheel in place on the brake drum;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of one of the engaging elements;

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view of th drum, showing the slots therein and the engaging elements extending therethrough; I I

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view of a selector valve;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the four way Valve;

Figure 10 is a detailed cross sectional view of the valve shown in Figure 9 and Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of the pump and reservoir tank used in the system.

Referring now to the figures, represents a chassis having four wheels 2| thereon. These wheels include the central wheel mounting portion 22 formed at their outer periphery in the conventional manner to retain a tire 23. The portion 22 is provided with curved I shaped slots 24 which are adapted to be inserted over the attaching bolts 25 extending through the arcuate shaped slots 26 in the circular plate 26 of a brake drum 2! 2 having a braking element 28 adapted to engage therewith. The plate 26 is provided with a sleeve 29 at the center thereof to be inserted over and mounted on the tapered end of the axle 39, and be retained thereon by the nut 3|. The bolts 25 are provided with a reduced portion 32 which carries the plate 33 which is fixed thereon by the nut and cotter key 34 and 35 respectively. The plate 33 is of a size to be removed from either endof the slot 24 while the portion of the slot intermediate the ends is of a size to engage the bolt 25 but prevent passage of the plate 33 therethrough. Thus the wheel 2!, upon movement thereof, can be retained on the bolts 25 or removed therefrom. The bolts are connected-at their inner ends to a pressure plate 36 which, by means of the central opening 36', is mounted on the sleeve 29, and the pressure plate is held inwardly of the plate 26 on the sleeve 29 by the spring 31 on the sleeve 29 of the plate 262' The spring 31 forcing the plate 35 inwardly will draw the bolts 25 against the portion 22, causing the annular shoulder 38 on the drum 2'! surround ing the plate 26 to be seated in the annular groove 39 formed in the rear of the portion 22 in alinement with-the shoulder 36. Mounted on the sleeve 29, by means of the central opening 40, and adapted to engage with the pressure plate 36, is a circular plate 4!, normally held out of engagement with the plate 36 by a tension spring 42 mounted on the sleeve 25. This spring sur;- roundsthe sleeve 29. Also surrounding the axle 30 is a circular plate 43, which is fixed at 44 to the axle housing 45 or formed integral therewith. and this plate carries diametrically extended fluid cylinders 44 having small pistons 45' therein. Connected with and in communication with the cylinders 44 are hydraulic fittings 46. through which fluid is forced under pressure through flexible pipes 4'1. The pistons 45. are connected by means of their stems 45 to the plate 4| and the flexible pipes 41 and the rear wheels are connected with an elbow and T 48 and 49 which are connected by a pipe 50 for the right rear wheel with one of the outlets of a selector valve 5| accessible to the operator of the vehicle and located preferably in the cab adjacent the forward seat portion thereof on the dash board. The arrangement just explained is common to each of the wheels and each arrangement has a communication with a selector valve. Pipe 52 to valve 53 for the left rear wheel and p pe 54 connected at one end to a T 55 for connection to pipes 4'! and to selector valve 56 for the right front wheel. Pipe 51 connected at one end to a T 58 3 for connection to pipes 41 and to selector valve 59 for the left front wheel.

In Figure 8, wherein selector valve 5! is shown, it will be noted that there is a two Way valve 68 having a handle 6! thereon. The valve 50 is normally retained in its seat by cap 62 threadably mounted on the selector valve 5|. It is to be understood that all selectors are as previously described for valve 5|.

Selector valve 58 is connected to ,thelmaster four wayvalve 63'by a pipe 64 and 'selectorvalve 55 is connected to the valve 63 by a pipe 65, While selector valves 5i and 53 are connected to the valve 63 by pipes 66 and 61 respectively, :valves 56, 5|, 53 and 58 being connected in the order named by pipes 68, 69, and H to the "pump and reservoir tank 12, while the valve ill-disconnected to the pump and reservoir 12 by the pipe 13.

The master valve 63 has the four way valve 14 twhichiis operated by a:key:inser.te'din .the :keyaway in zthe valve for actuation of .the 'tum blers 526 to lock the valve F4 against relative .movementwithin the :master valve i 6 3. The :valve 1421's swedged at 1:1 ;and :is retained in place by a pep 4'18 Ythrea'dably =mounted :on :the master valve 63.

"The pump-and reservoir tank 12 comprises a pump or :one stroke .:devioe 113 which is three-dably connected ito and in communication with :the tank 119 :and the pipe-73 to the *valve 53. "This device #58 comprises a cylinder ill and -a piston :80 inperacble therein to reject fluid through the pipe 131130 .the valve 63 and from the valve 83 fluid will be delivered under pressure to whichever .o'fathe selector valvesit is desired to operate :and as determined "by the particular selector valve which has been rotated for this *purpose.

The:piston;89:has:a pivotal connection 8 with -a rod 82 which extends outwardly of the cylinder and-on which is pivotedat' 83a'handle 84, which :is pivoted at 85 to :the device 78%. The tank -19 is provided .with :a filler :opening -86 -for the replenishing-oi 'the fluid 81 therein.

I .:operation, when a selector valve is rotated, :the vplate fll l will be engaged with the plate 26' and iforcethe bolts -outwardly against the action of the spring 3].

The plates33on thebo1ts-"25 are-adaptedwhen the :bolts are in Ttheir retaining position to bear against the portion 22 of the wheel 24. The shankof the bolt will extend through the narrow 'slot lying between the ends of the slots 24. The :Wheel will accordingly be held in tight engagement with the plate =26. As the bolts "are extended by the mechanism just described, the plate 33 thereon will leave through the end of the slots 24 and'w'ill permit the Wheel to beremoved from the l'bralse drum 2*7.

P1ior to the operation of the selector "valves, the avalve -63 must be rotated by unlocking the :valve thereof. Thus the system, once looked,

4 cannot be unlocked by any unauthorized user thereof.

There has thus been provided, a device which eliminates the use of the conventional lugs in attaching a wheel to the brake drum of an automobile, and it is believed that from the foregoing description, the operation and construction of the device will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Itlis alsoatodoe =understoodthatschanges in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to, provided they fall vnthin the spirit of the invention and :thescope'of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as=new and desired to be secured by Let ters Patent is:

1. A wheel lock and hydraulic release comprising a plate having a plurality of bolts connected thereto at circumferentially spaced locations 'ithereon, aid :zbolts adapted to extend through a wheel plate, a wheel having :recesses for receiving plates :fixed to the bolts, :said ,recesses being vadapted when the :wheel is rotated to one :position 'tozretain-the'iwheel .in locked renrgagementwvith the szvheel plate :and whenrotate'd to an angular :position adapted 150 permit the wheel to rbeiremovred from the :bolts, andan .actuating device adapted itozapply pressureto the plates having :thelbolts to effect their outward movement, and ;spring :means reacting between the 'plates ":llO znormallynzetain :the belts in llooked engagement withthe wheel:recesses.

2. A wheel lock and release as defined :in claim 351, :and said actuating :means ifor the bolt con-- 'taining .aplate comprising fluid actuating cylinderszhaving amember'ior engagingzthe bolt containing .plate, sa'fluid gpumpaadapted to be located in the ica'b :ofthewehicle, :a master valve in fluid communication .withithe pumpgand selector valve elements "in communication with the master valve for controlling "the flow l of 'fluid under pressure to the respective wheel arrangements.

:3. ;A avheel lock and rleasedevice as defined in claim 1, and said actuating means comprising fluid -cylinders at the wheels, a plate connecting the fluid cylinder devices together and adapted to engage with the plate containing the "bolts, delivery pipe means for connecting the'fiuid cylinders together, a master valve on the 'vehicle "and connected with the iluid'delivery pipes, and a manually operated =pump connected with the master valve and adapted with one-stroke to effect the movement or the fluid cylinder devices to release the bolts, said master valve-connected to a plurality of selector 'valve elements having valves with manually-operated handles thereon, and means associated withthemaster valve for retaining the master valve in -lockedor unlocked @160 positions.

JOSEPH KRAUS. .-No references cited. 

